Vehicle-wheel.



C. E. KREBS.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED DIac`.26. 1913.

1,156,486, Patented oct. 12, 1915.

CHARLES E. K REBS, OF CHIOAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T FORSYTH BROTHERS COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A CORPORATION oF ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. i2, 1915.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. KREBs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ghicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels, of

which the following is a specification.

. lying parts; Fig. 2 is a section on a tending radially therefrom,

The a pressed metal wheel of improved construction which shall possess the highest degree of strength and resistance `to strains and shocks applied either in the plane of the wheel or at an angle thereto.

The wheel is particularly adapted for the carrying of heavy loads and for hard usage as for instance in connection with motor vehicles and it is preferably made of pressed steel, although obviously it could be advantageously used in other connections and where metals other than steel lwould beV found' suitable.

In the accompanying drawing and in the` description based thereon the invention is set forth as embodied in a wheel of that general type wherein two similar halves each comprising central Ahub and radial -spoke portions are placed side by side in opposition with a spoke of one-half envelopingvthe corresponding spoke of the'other half. As, however, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other and varied constructional forms the drawing and description are to be constructed in an illustrative and not in an unnecessarily limiting sense.

In the drawing-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of Jsuch a wheel having certain parts broken away to reveal underlarger scale taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 8 is a similar section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

The wheel as illustratedfis manufactured' b punching and pressing from two circular blanks of sheet metal so as to provide a central disk portion 11 with integral strips exthe latter being connected Aat their outer ends by a peripheral web 12. The several strips are left integral with the central disk 11 and the peripheral web 12 in their medial portions only, the punching operation slitting the metal at 13 and blanking out the triangular portions between the several strips so leave the marginal portions 14 thereof object of the invention is .to provide along each side of the medial portion of the strip. lBy the pressing operation each of the disks is dished and the central disk portion of each is also provided with radiating semi-tubular ribs 15 which extend from the central portion of the disk radially and the semi-tubular formation of which continues along the medial integral portion of the strips and including the web. The free marginal portions 14 of the alternate strips are further folded over to form tubular spokes 16 with their edges 17 in abutment. Further, by the pressing operation, the central disk portion is provided with an annular depression 18 extending inwardly and having side walls 19, 19 and a bottom wall 20 the depth of the depression corresponding to one-half the thickness of the completed wheel in its hub portion. The two halves of the wheel thus formed having alternate' tubular spokes vwith intervening incompletely formed spokes and with an annular depression about the central opening are disposed side 'by side in walls 20 of the two annular depressions in abutting contact and with the tubular spokes lying within the incompletely formed spokes, and thereafter the marginal portions of the incompletely formed spokes are folded inwardly so as to envelop the inner spokes, themselves forming the outer spokes 21 with the edges of the marginal portions 14 abutting each other along the line 22. The contacting bottom walls 2O of the depressions 18 are united as by welding and the edges of the disks between the spokes are similarly united as indicated. The usual hub 23 is then `-inserted through the central opening of the wheel, the integral'hub plate 24 overlying the annular depression 18 of one of the disks and the removable hub plate 25 is positioned upon the hub and overlying the annular depression 18 of the other disk. The hub plates are then connected by means of a series of bolts 26 extending into the annular depressions 18 and through the abutting walls 20 of the latter, whereby the two hub plates are clamped upon the two halves of the wheel securing the same firmly together while the walls of the annular depressionsserve as spacing members to maintain the parts in stifen the wheel against strains applied laterally of the plane of the wheel.

proper relation and to.'

sions with -ments 31 areof the side of the wheel, plates By the formation of the annular deprestheir walls in contact with .each other the necessity of using spacing spools or a solid member within the hub is obviated, thesame or a greater degree of rigidity being obtained with a much lighter construction and one more economical from the manufacturing standpoints of labor and material.

dvantageously each of the inner spokes at the point where it merges with its rib 15 is slightly offset inwardly so las to provide an outwardly facing shoulder 27 to permit the outer spokes to envelop the same and to abut radially against such shoulder. The half round channels'28 formed in the web as continuations of each spoke are of an exterior diameter corresponding to that of the outer spokes. 1t follows that the said channeled portion of the web which forms the outer continuation of each inner spoke is larger than the spoke proper, the surface being odset a distance corresponding to the thickness of the metal and thus forming a shoulder against which the outer end -of the overlapping portion 14 of the outer spoke will abut so that the outer surface ofthe spoke and of the channeled portion of the web will form a Hush joint along the line indicated at 13.

r1`he web 12 of each of the halves is flanged at a right angle as indicated at 29 so that when the two halves are joined as above stated the two flanges'29 provide an outward flat periphery serving as a felly upon which the rim 30 is mounted and suitably secured as vby welding. y

ln order to additionally strengthen the wheel each of the spokes may be provided with a tubular reinforcement 31 extending throughout its length with its outer end within the tubular portion 28 of the web and bearing against the inner face of the rim 30 while its inner end bears against the side walls 19 of the depressions 18 Preferably the spokes 16 and 21 are sub-A stantially elliptical in cross section at their inner ends and circular at their outer ends,

the major axis of the ellipse being transverse,

tothe plane -of the-wheel, and the spokes thus tapering outwardly as viewed in the plane of the wheel. The spoke reinforcesame general shape as the spoke 16 and itsnugly within the same throughout their length. l Y

I claim: y

1. In a sheet metal wheel la hollow shell comprising a pan-like hub portion and spoke portions formed integral therewith, the hub portion having a depression extending inwardly froinone side with its bottom wall n contact with the wall of the opposite overlying the depressio on opposite sides of the wheel, and means connecting` the plates whereby to divided in a 4medial clamp the walls of the shell in-abutting contact at the depressed portion, substantially as described.

2. 1n a sheet metal wheel, a hollow shell comprising a pan-like hub portion and spoke portions formed integral therewith, the hub portion having on one side an annular depression with its bottom wall in contact with the wall of the opposite side of the wheel, face plates on opposite sides of the wheel and overlying the depression, and means connecting plates whereby to clamp the bottom wall of the depression in abutting contact with the opposite wall of the' wheel, substantially as described.

3. 1n a sheet metal wheel, a hollow shell comprising a pan-like hub portion and spoke portions formed integral therewith, the hub portion having adepression extending inwardly from each side thereof with its bottom wall in contact with the bottom wall of the corresponding depression formed in the opposite side lof the wheel, hub face plates overlying the depressions, and means connecting the face plates whereby to clamp the bottom walls of the depressions inl abutting contact, substantially as described.

4. ln a sheet metal wheel, a hollow shell comprising a hub portion and spoke portions formed integral therewith, the hub portion having an annular depression extending inwardly from each side thereof with its bottom wall in contact with the bottom wall of the corresponding depression formed in the opposite side of the wheel,

hub face plates overlying the depressions,

and means connecting the face plates where- .f

by to clamp the bottom walls of the depres sions in abutting contact, substantla-lly as described.

5. 1n a sheet metal wheel, a hollow shell plane4 of the wheel and comprising similar halves each having a hub portion and spoke portions formed integral therewith, each huby portion having an annular depression extending inwardly with vits bottom wall in contact with the bottom wall of the corresponding depression formed in the opposite half of the wheel, hub face plates overlying the depressions, and means connecting the face plates whereby to clamp the bottom walls of the depressions in abutting contact, substantially as described.

6. 1n a sheet metal wheel, a hollow shell comprising a hub portion and spoke portions formed integral therewith, the hub portion having a depression extending inwardlyfrom each side thereof with its bottom wall in contact with the bottom wall of the corresponding depression formed in the opposite side of the wheel, hub face plates overlying the depressions, means connecting the face plates whereby to clamp the bottom walls of the depressions in abutting contact,

and tubular spoke reinforcements within and corresponding substantially to the shape of the spokes and having their inner ends abutting against the side walls of the depressions in the hub portion, substantially as described.

7. In a sheet metal wheel, a hollow shell comprising a hub portion and spoke portions formed integral therewith, the hub,

portion having an annular depression extending inwardly from each side thereof with its bottom Wall in contact with the bottom wall of the corresponding depression formed in the opposite side of the wheel,`

hub face plates overlying vthe depressions, means connecting the face plates whereby to clamp the bottom walls of the depressions in abutting contact, and tubular spoke reinforcements within and corresponding substantially to the shape of the spokes and having their inner ends abutting against the side walls of the depressions in the hub portion, substantially as described.

8. In a sheet metal wheel, a hollow shell divided in a medial plane of the wheel and comprising similar halves each having a hub portion and spoke portions formed integral therewith, each hub portion having an annular depression extending inwardly with its bottom wall in contact with the bottom Wall of the corresponding depression formed in the opposite half of the wheel, hub face plates overlying the depressions, means connecting the face plates whereby to clamp the bottom walls of the depressions in abutting contact, and tubular spoke reinforcements within and corresponding substantially to the shape of the spokes and having their inner ends abutting against the side walls of the depressions in the hub portion, substantially as described..

9. In a sheet metal wheel, a hollow shell divided in a medial plane of the wheel and comprising similar halves each having a hub portion and spoke .portions formed integral therewith, the corresponding spokes of the two halves snugly fitting one within the other, each of the hub portions having an annular depression extending inwardly with its bottom wall in Contact with the bottom wall of the corresponding depression formed in the opposite half of the wheel, hub face plates overlying the depressions, and means connecting the face plates .whereby to clamp `the bottom walls of the depressions in abutting contact, substantially as described.4

10. In a sheet metal wheel, a hollow shell comprising a hub portion and spoke portions formed integral therewith, the spokes outwardly tapering as viewed in the plane of the wheel, the hub portion having an annular depression extending inwardly from each side with its bottom wall in contact with the bottom wall of the corresponding depression formed in the opposite side of Athe wheel,hub face plates overlying the depression, and means connecting the face plates whereby to clamp the bottom walls of the depressions in abutting contact, substantially as described.

l1. In a sheet metal wheel, a hollow shell comprising a hub portion and spoke portions formed integral therewith, the spokes outwardly tapering as viewed in the Aplane of Athe wheel, the hub portion having an annular depression extending inwardly from each side with its bottom wall 'in contact with the bottomv wall of the corresponding depression formed in the lopposite side of the wheel, hub face plates overlying the depression, means connecting the faceplates whereby to 'clamp the bottom Walls of the depressions in abutting contact, and tubular spoke reinforcements within and corresponding substantially to the shape of the taperedpspokes and having their inner ends abutting against the side walls of the annular depressions in the hub tially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. KREBS.

Witnesses i L. T. GREIST, T. D. BUTLER.

portion, substan` 

